Modernization of «Sazhen-TM» Satellite Laser Ranging System at the «Svetloe» Observatory
Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 66, 3–10 (2023)
DOI: 10.32876/ApplAstron.66.3-10
Keywords: satellite laser ranging, quantum-optical system, laser emitter, pulse duration, range measurements
About the paper Full textAbstract
The «Sazhen-TM» satellite laser ranging system, manufactured by JSC «RPC PSI», was installed at the Svetloe observatory of the Quasar-KVO complex in 2011 and since 2012 the station has been conducting regular observations according to the ILRS programs. Taking into account the specific meteorological conditions of the area, a number of works were carried out earlier to improve the operational characteristics of the system. They led to significantly increasing the intensity of observation sessions. However, the accuracy of single measurements of the system remained at the same level (3–4 cm), which is characteristic for all «Sazhen-TM» systems installed at the majority of the Russian SLR network stations. Such measurement errors have already ceased to meet modern requirements and the modernization of this type SLR system to improve its accuracy has become extremely relevant. In 2021, based on the analysis of sources of random measurement errors, the work was planned and carried out to modernize the «Sazhen-TM» system at the Svetloe observatory. Taking into account the fact that the laser pulse duration has the greatest influence on the measurement accuracy, it was decided to begin the modernization of the system with the replacement of the emitter. During the modernization, the installation and pairing of a new short-pulse laser with standard range measuring equipment was carried out and the system for measuring the time interval was improved by installing new units for high-precision time referencing of the starting and stop signals. As a emitter a picosecond Nd: YAG laser is used, which was developed at LOS LLC (St. Petersburg) together with ITMO University (St. Petersburg). It differs from the old laser in a significantly shorter pulse: 35 ps instead of 300 ps. To ensure the operating temperature range of the laser, a special thermal stabilization system has been developed. Experimental observations started after the adjustment of the new emitter and the adjustment of the all system for working with short pulses showed a significant improvement in measurement accuracy. Comparison with the data of observations made before the modernization of the laser system shows that for Lageos-1 and Lageos-2 satellites there was an increase in the accuracy of unit range measurements by more than 2 times. By a larger amount accuracy improved for low-orbital spacecrafts: from 30–35 mm to 8–13 mm. In general, the carried out modernization led to an improvement in the accuracy of measurements of the «Sazhen-TM» laser system by 2–2.5 times, depending on the spacecraft type. In the course of this stage of modernization, possible steps of further modernization of this type laser system are also outlined, during the implementation of which the accuracy of range measurements at the level of units of mm can be achieved. The experience of upgrading the «Sazhen-TM» system at Svetloe observatory can also be extended to all stations of the Russian ILRS segment equipped with this type of systems.
Citation
V. B. Burmistrov, Е. V. Burmistrov, I. S. Gayazov, G. N. Il’in, A. V. Ipatov, Yu. V. Katsev, V. V. Koval, А. F. Kornev, V. А. Mitryaev, I. А. Rahimov, S. G. Smolentsev. Modernization of «Sazhen-TM» Satellite Laser Ranging System at the «Svetloe» Observatory // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2023. — Issue 66. — P. 3–10.
@article{burmistrov2023,
abstract = {The «Sazhen-TM» satellite laser ranging system, manufactured by JSC «RPC PSI», was installed at the Svetloe observatory of the Quasar-KVO complex in 2011 and since 2012 the station has been conducting regular observations according to the ILRS programs. Taking into account the specific meteorological conditions of the area, a number of works were carried out earlier to improve the operational characteristics of the system. They led to significantly increasing the intensity of observation sessions. However, the accuracy of single measurements of the system remained at the same level (3–4 cm), which is characteristic for all «Sazhen-TM» systems installed at the majority of the Russian SLR network stations. Such measurement errors have already ceased to meet modern requirements and the modernization of this type SLR system to improve its accuracy has become extremely relevant.
In 2021, based on the analysis of sources of random measurement errors, the work was planned and carried out to modernize the «Sazhen-TM» system at the Svetloe observatory. Taking into account the fact that the laser pulse duration has the greatest influence on the measurement accuracy, it was decided to begin the modernization of the system with the replacement of the emitter. During the modernization, the installation and pairing of a new short-pulse laser with standard range measuring equipment was carried out and the system for measuring the time interval was improved by installing new units for high-precision time referencing of the starting and stop signals. As a emitter a picosecond Nd: YAG laser is used, which was developed at LOS LLC (St. Petersburg) together with ITMO University (St. Petersburg). It differs from the old laser in a significantly shorter pulse: 35 ps instead of 300 ps. To ensure the operating temperature range of the laser, a special thermal stabilization system has been developed.
Experimental observations started after the adjustment of the new emitter and the adjustment of the all system for working with short pulses showed a significant improvement in measurement accuracy. Comparison with the data of observations made before the modernization of the laser system shows that for Lageos-1 and Lageos-2 satellites there was an increase in the accuracy of unit range measurements by more than 2 times. By a larger amount accuracy improved for low-orbital spacecrafts: from 30–35 mm to 8–13 mm. In general, the carried out modernization led to an improvement in the accuracy of measurements of the «Sazhen-TM» laser system by 2–2.5 times, depending on the spacecraft type.
In the course of this stage of modernization, possible steps of further modernization of this type laser system are also outlined, during the implementation of which the accuracy of range measurements at the level of units of mm can be achieved. The experience of upgrading the «Sazhen-TM» system at Svetloe observatory can also be extended to all stations of the Russian ILRS segment equipped with this type of systems.},
author = {V.~B. Burmistrov and Е.~V. Burmistrov and I.~S. Gayazov and G.~N. Il’in and A.~V. Ipatov and Yu.~V. Katsev and V.~V. Koval and А.~F. Kornev and V.~А. Mitryaev and I.~А. Rahimov and S.~G. Smolentsev},
doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.66.3-10},
issue = {66},
journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
keyword = {satellite laser ranging, quantum-optical system, laser emitter, pulse duration, range measurements},
pages = {3--10},
title = {Modernization of «Sazhen-TM» Satellite Laser Ranging System at the «Svetloe» Observatory},
url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2158/},
year = {2023}
}
TY - JOUR
TI - Modernization of «Sazhen-TM» Satellite Laser Ranging System at the «Svetloe» Observatory
AU - Burmistrov, V. B.
AU - Burmistrov, Е. V.
AU - Gayazov, I. S.
AU - Il’in, G. N.
AU - Ipatov, A. V.
AU - Katsev, Yu. V.
AU - Koval, V. V.
AU - Kornev, А. F.
AU - Mitryaev, V. А.
AU - Rahimov, I. А.
AU - Smolentsev, S. G.
PY - 2023
T2 - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS - 66
SP - 3
AB - The «Sazhen-TM» satellite laser ranging system, manufactured by JSC
«RPC PSI», was installed at the Svetloe observatory of the Quasar-KVO
complex in 2011 and since 2012 the station has been conducting
regular observations according to the ILRS programs. Taking into
account the specific meteorological conditions of the area, a number
of works were carried out earlier to improve the operational
characteristics of the system. They led to significantly increasing
the intensity of observation sessions. However, the accuracy of
single measurements of the system remained at the same level (3–4
cm), which is characteristic for all «Sazhen-TM» systems installed at
the majority of the Russian SLR network stations. Such measurement
errors have already ceased to meet modern requirements and the
modernization of this type SLR system to improve its accuracy has
become extremely relevant. In 2021, based on the analysis of sources
of random measurement errors, the work was planned and carried out to
modernize the «Sazhen-TM» system at the Svetloe observatory. Taking
into account the fact that the laser pulse duration has the greatest
influence on the measurement accuracy, it was decided to begin the
modernization of the system with the replacement of the emitter.
During the modernization, the installation and pairing of a new
short-pulse laser with standard range measuring equipment was carried
out and the system for measuring the time interval was improved by
installing new units for high-precision time referencing of the
starting and stop signals. As a emitter a picosecond Nd: YAG laser is
used, which was developed at LOS LLC (St. Petersburg) together with
ITMO University (St. Petersburg). It differs from the old laser in a
significantly shorter pulse: 35 ps instead of 300 ps. To ensure the
operating temperature range of the laser, a special thermal
stabilization system has been developed. Experimental observations
started after the adjustment of the new emitter and the adjustment of
the all system for working with short pulses showed a significant
improvement in measurement accuracy. Comparison with the data of
observations made before the modernization of the laser system shows
that for Lageos-1 and Lageos-2 satellites there was an increase in
the accuracy of unit range measurements by more than 2 times. By a
larger amount accuracy improved for low-orbital spacecrafts: from
30–35 mm to 8–13 mm. In general, the carried out modernization led to
an improvement in the accuracy of measurements of the «Sazhen-TM»
laser system by 2–2.5 times, depending on the spacecraft type. In
the course of this stage of modernization, possible steps of further
modernization of this type laser system are also outlined, during the
implementation of which the accuracy of range measurements at the
level of units of mm can be achieved. The experience of upgrading the
«Sazhen-TM» system at Svetloe observatory can also be extended to all
stations of the Russian ILRS segment equipped with this type of
systems.
DO - 10.32876/ApplAstron.66.3-10
UR - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2158/
ER -